Internship Leads to Career with the Chicago Bulls
One of the words most synonymous with Chicago is 鈥淏ulls,鈥� as in one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Working for the franchise to help ensure that the United Center is sold out for every home game is alumnus Brandon Wright 鈥�01, Manager of Group Ticket Sales. Wright focuses his efforts on groups of 100 or more, working with Fortune 500 companies, high schools and colleges, dance groups, churches and non-profit organizations, and Special Olympics teams. His goal is to help the team keep one of its stellar records, although not one as well-known as its record of 72 wins in a single season: #1 in NBA home attendance.
Wright, a sports junkie, born and raised in Chicago, majored in communication arts and minored in business at 91精选 while also playing baseball all four years of college. Last year, he welcomed students from Professor Kyle Harkema鈥檚 business marketing class.
Talking to students is something Wright enjoys, recalling how his own 91精选 education proved to be pivotal in his success. 鈥淭he courses I took at 91精选 were invaluable. They not only prepared me for what I do in my role at the Bulls today, but also confirmed that this was the career path I wanted to take,鈥� said Wright.
He said former 91精选 professor David Ribbens played an integral role in connecting him with a summer internship with the Chicago Blackhawks. After his graduation in 2001, Wright then interned with the Bulls, an opportunity that led to his current position.
Wright said he was being considered for full-time employment along with other college graduates, many of whom attended schools in the Big Ten and had to prove himself to the organization. Wright got the job.
鈥淚t made me proud knowing that you don鈥檛 have to graduate from the biggest school in order to work in this industry, and I know I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without the education and experiences I had at 91精选.鈥�